Moments ago, the Semi-Final Allocation Draw for the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest took place in Düsseldorf, Germany. Under scrutiny of Jon Ola Sand, Executive Supervisor of the contest on behalf of the EBU, and a representative from Digame. Digame is the EBU's official voting partner and handles the pan-European response platform over which the contest's voting runs.

To assure maximum suspense, the 38 countries represented in the Semi-Finals were drawn from six pots, based on voting patterns of 2010. After all, viewers can only vote for the other countries that take part in that respective Semi-Final.

It also be decided if a country participates in the first or second half of the respective Semi-Final, so that delegations know well in advance on which day they are expected in Düsseldorf for their first stage rehearsal.

After a draw, the countries will perform in these Semi-Finals (and in these halves):

First Semi-Final

First half

Albania

Armenia

Finland

Georgia

Norway

Poland

Russia

Serbia

Switzerland

Turkey

Second half

Azerbaijan

Croatia

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Lithuania

Malta

Portugal

San Marino

Second Semi-Final

First half

Austria

Belgium

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Cyprus

Moldova

Slovakia

Sweden

The Netherlands

Ukraine

Second half

Belarus

Bulgaria

Denmark

Estonia

FYR Macedonia

Ireland

Israel

Latvia

Romania

Slovenia

Israeli broadcaster IBA has asked to EBU to grant them a spot in the second Semi-Final, due to their memorial day on the 10th of May. German Host Broadcaster NDR asked the EBU to allocate them to broadcast and vote in the second Semi-Final for scheduling reasons. Both requests have been granted.

Five countries have already qualified for the Final of the Eurovision Song Contest, being United Kingdom, France, Germany (the Host Country), Spain and making their return after 13 years - Italy. As a total of 25 countries will take part in the Final, then 10 from each Semi-Final will qualify for it. They are obliged to broadcast and vote in (as drawn):

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Further reading

At 13:00 CET today, the running order of the First and Second Semi-Final as well as the Grand Final of the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest will be drawn. The procedure is part of the meeting of all the Heads of Delegation from the 43 countries that will be represented in Europe's Favourite TV Show. Watch it live on our ESCTV Player!

The annual Head of Delegation meeting is taking place in Düsseldorf today and tomorrow which is a perfect opportunity for all the 43 nations to present themselves and their songs. All the final versions of the songs and the preview video clips have to be handed in at this meeting. Furthermore, the host broadcaster NDR gives an update on the preparations for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest.

Düsseldorf is getting ready for the first big Eurovision Song Contest related event - the Host City Insignia Exchange featuring the Semi-Final Allocation Draw. A delegation from Norway will hand over the Eurovision Song Contest insignia to the Oberbürgermeister of Düsseldorf, Mr Dirk Elbers. The ceremony, hosted by 2011 Eurovision Song Contest host Judith Rakers, will take place at the Apollo Theatre and is expected to be attended by hundreds of guests and journalists.